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Undergraduate Minor

News

June 2015:

Environmental Workshop for Teachers Hosted by MU and Mill Cove

The workshop involved in a field course on the chemical and biological assessment of the Tioga River watershed and from the headwaters at County Bridge to the yellow-colored rocks of Island Park in Blossburg.

The workshop also included instruction on sources of pollution and the use of chemical tests and biological species identification to assess the water quality of the Tioga River as well as a demonstration of the complexities of groundwater characterization.

“The goal of the workshop was to provide teachers with tools to help lead their classes in understanding how to study the impact of human activity on surface water and groundwater using science,” Davis said.

MU Chemistry Professor Shaker Ramasamy shared research he is conducting on groundwater quality using the University’s Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectrometer with the participants.

Several MU students participated in leading the workshop by assisting the teacher-participants in performing chemistry experiments and in the identification of macroinvertebrates from the waterways. Read more

May 2015:

Marc Kiessling Honored at Regional Chemistry Meeting:

MANSFIELD, PA— Marc Kiessling, a Mansfield University senior with
majors in Chemistry and Computer Science and minors in Mathematics
and Philosophy, was the “Best Poster” at the Scholes Lecture and Poster
Program at the Corning Sectional Meeting of the American Chemical
Society on April 28. Read more.

Chemistry Students and Faculty Attend Lecture and Poster Session:

The April meeting of the Corning Section of the American
Chemical Society is the highlight monthly meeting of the year, combining
student research presentations, Outstanding Senior Awards and a
nationally recognized speaker along with a banquet.

The evening began with the poster session showcasing research
efforts by undergraduates from colleges and universities in the Corning
Section, including Mansfield University, Elmira College and Alfred
University.

Two of the MU students presented their work. Joe Mandeville, a
junior from Honesdale, PA, under the supervision of Assistant Professor
Michele Conrad, showcased his research on gunshot residue using
electrochemical methods. Marc Kiessling, a senior from Mansfield, PA,
whose poster was selected as the best of the session, highlighted his
work on the spectroscopy of holmium ions in solution. He worked under
the direction of Professor Scott A. Davis.

CSI-MU: Science Students Host a Mock Crime Scene Investigation

May 1, 2015

MANSFIELD, PA— Mansfield University science students created a mock crime scene in Spruce Hall recently and invited fellow students to participate in evaluating the crime scene, examining evidence and solving the crime.

Student investigators sketched the crime scene and then proceeded to the Forensics Crime Lab where hair was compared under microscopes and recorded and fingerprints were collected and studied under a magnifying glass. Characteristic patterns from the fingerprints, such as loops, whorls, and arches, were used to narrow down the suspects. Red stains were chemically tested for the presence of blood. Lastly, shoe prints were collected and compared.

“All these factors culminated together to reveal the perpetrator of the crime, yet some evidence were unexpectedly misleading,” Conrad said. “This sample scenario gave students the opportunity to have fun solving a puzzle, to debunk common misconceptions from television shows and to gain a better appreciation for different forensic science techniques used in the field.”

Forensic Science Students attend Symposium

April 13, 2015

MANSFIELD, PA—Seven Mansfield University Forensic Science students attended the 13th Annual Forensic Science Symposium at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA on March 28.

The symposium consisted of seven one-hour presentations from specialists in the forensics field ranging from government to industry to cutting-edge research institutions. Topics that were covered included DNA analysis in combating human trafficking, cyberstalking, 3-D laser scanning in crime scene reconstruction, technological advances in lab-quality testing at crime scenes for gunshot residue and plants of abuse and forensic entomology.

“As students later reflected on what they learned from the symposium, they expressed that their interests were piqued as they related how their classwork is applied in the field,” Conrad said. “They were fascinated by the advances in technology that are being used at crime scenes, especially when it came to DNA analysis and materials characterization through vibrational spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Through this experience, the students gained a better sense of their specific interests and had a fun time expanding their knowledge in a professional setting.”

Students & Faculty Participate in National Chemistry Week

October 27, 2014

MANSFIELD, PA— Mansfield University Chemistry students and faculty members Michele Conrad, Chemistry, and Michele Whitecraft, Education, took part in two National Chemistry Week (NCW) events during the week of October 20.

They lead discussions in various applications of science and powers of observation and inference and followed up with a forensic chemistry demonstration. Students were tasked to determine the identity of the writer of a mystery note. The students used a method called chromatography to separate dyes and pigments in black markers. The way the pigments and dyes separated allowed the students to make comparisons and identify the author of the note, whether a bully, a best friend or a crush.

“Students left the event excited to try the experiment at home,” Conrad said.

On October 23, Chemistry Club students Angie Kilyan, Joe Mandeville and Bryan McCullough, along with Assistant Professor Conrad, visited seventh grade classes at Corning-Painted Post Middle School in Painted Post.

Students collected their fingerprints and understood the different features to look for. They used these skills to identify a mystery superhero’s fingerprints.

“Students were excited to use their powers of observation to solve a mystery,” Conrad said.

The NCW events included several different demonstrations from scientists in the region. NCW is a community-based annual event that unites American Chemical Society local sections, businesses, schools and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life.

Area Students Attempt to Qualify for International Chemistry Olympiad:

Five area high school students took the qualifying exam to try and earn a spot on the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad team on April 16 at Mansfield University.

Faculty and Students conduct water study:

As the natural gas boom revs up in the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania, with all its benefits and drawbacks, local citizens are often left wondering where to turn for reliable, impartial information on a number of subjects. One of these local citizens, Paul Wendel, a science professor at Mansfield University, saw an opportunity for education.